This is the concept for a TV game show slash reality show. Basically, a store is selected to be used a stadium, no colosseum. Depending upon the size of the store selected, participation could either be team based, one on one, or even free for all. In fact, it would probably be interesting to have a few different leagues to keep things interesting.

Additionally, there could be some variation by means of different scenarios. For example, a defend and assault scenario where one team could be given a head start to bunker down in the store, and then the other team begins with an assault. Of course all the favourite modes could be done as well, like capture the flag, last man standing, etc.

Basically, the rules are that you can use whatever you find in the store to combat the other players. This means, you reach the gun sections first, you can use guns. Wanna be more creative? Get to the cleaning supplies aisle and concoct yourself some weapons. The possibilities are really limitless.

Obviously, long standing players would acquire a preference for certain items and techniques, so by switching the store around, it requires the players to be creative and to produce more weapons. At a hunting store, the best weapons are obvious. But what about at a book store? Or a grocery store? This is when things get interesting.

This list is incomplete and is still a work in progress. At this point, I’ve not differentiated between US, Japanese, and European releases. Due to the age of the games, there are some difficulties in determining which region releases exist and which languages are available.

Here is a list of GBA RPGs released in Japan. This list is incomplete and is a work in progress. At the moment, it contains primarily titles that correspond to those on the US list, as well as additional titles in a series. All titles are romanised. In most instances where a Japanese word in the title is in fact a Japanese version of an English word, the proper English word is simply used (i.e., ‘Final Fantasy’ instead of ‘Fainaru Fantazii’). Note that minor, and occasionally gross, variation between US and Japanese titles for the same game do exist. In all likeliness, this list will be much larger than its US and European counterparts.

This is a work and progress and is not complete. In time, there will be another list like this for Japanese releases, maybe one for European (multi-language) releases, and possibly even some for SNES RPGs. Note that I include some titles which purists might not consider true RPGs such as Zelda and tactical RPGs.

Despite some minor ambiguities, I have determined that the song Shake It by Metro Station is referring to playing a game of chess. The three protagonists of this narrative are a boy, a girl, and a friend of the boy. Here’s the interpretation:

(Let’s Drop!)

This is referring to setting up the board and game pieces.

(Yeah)

(Come On)

(Shake, shake)

These are just various cheers of excitement for the game to commence.

I’ll take you home if you don’t leave me at the front door (leave me at the front door)

The boy is offering to take the girl home if in turn she will play a game of chess with him at her house.

Your body’s cold, but girl we’re getting so warm

The girl is cold, but she’s getting warmed up for the game.

And I was thinking of ways that I could get inside (get inside)

The boy’s considering various tactical moves.

Tonight you’re falling in love (let me go now)

Normally, the girl doesn’t enjoy chess, but the boy is hoping that she will become a more regular player.

This feeling’s stirring me up (here we go now)

He’s referring to the anticipation of the game.

Now if she does it like this, will you do it like that

Now if she touches like this, will you touch her right back

Now if she moves like this, will you move it like that (come on)

At this point, the picture becomes blurry and we see a flashback. In anticipation of this game, the boy’s friend is coaching him on which moves to use to counter the girl’s moves.

Shake, Shake, Shake, Shake, uh shake it

Shake, Shake, Shake, Shake, uh shake it

Shake, Shake, Shake, Shake, uh shake it

Shake, Shake, Shake, Shake, uh shake it

Shake, Shake, Shake, Shake, uh shake it

If achieving victory becomes impossible, the friend advises the boy the to shake the board as a very last resort.

Your lips tremble but your eyes are in a straight stare (eyes are in a straight stare)

Now the girl exhibits nervousness, but is able to maintain focus.

You’re on the bed but your clothes are laying right there

Apparently, they upped the stakes and are playing strip chess, with the girl losing. Likewise, it appears that they were able to move the board onto the bed, presumably to be more comfortable.

And I was thinking of places that I could hide (I could hide)

Basically, the boy is referring to covering his king, castling perhaps.

Tonight you’re falling in love (let me go now)

Again, the boy asserts his opinion that the girl will become obsessed with chess after this game.

This feeling’s stirring me (here we go now)

The thought of creating a new chess player is an emotional experience for the boy.

Well I saw you dancing and I couldn’t get you off my mind

From the context, it seems the girl was taking a long time to maker her move, so the boy imagined her dancing.

(I could tell that you could tell that I was taking my time)

It seems the boy was stalling his move or considering it carefully, and the girl noticed this.

I was thinking of ways that you would stay and be mine

Now the boy is having grandiose thoughts of making the girl his disciple.

(Your body’s shaking, turn me on, so I can turn off the lights)

At this point, the game is nearly over. The girl distraught because she is on the verge of losing. It seems that this is causing her a long time to make a move, so the boy uses a poetic construction to requests that she wake him up when the game is over so that he can go home and go to sleep.

My first year of high school was my last year of football. Overall, it was a pretty miserable season. The coach was a jerk and the team pretty much sucked, but we had a good enough time.

However, there was one, and I think maybe the only one, game we won. The whole game started out really awesome cause our coach for some reason was like super late and didn’t make it until like half-time or something. So, Shawn, our B-goalie, and another of our prominent players, Nathan were basically going to command from the battlefield which would have been like totally awesome. But I think a parent stepped up to fill in until the coach got there.

Anyway, most of the kids on our team were probably grade 9 and 10, most of the kids on the other team were probably like grade 8 and 9, so we had a bit of an advantage.

But they had one player that appeared to be older, and certainly more skilled than the rest. He was probably the best player out of both of our teams, heck, one of the most skilled players I saw all season. It sucks I can’t remember this guy’s name cause I really loved him. I want to say it was like Trey or something.

So anyway, we’re playing, and somehow he found out one of our player’s name, and whenever he was around him, in a real psychotic voice would say, “Helloooo, Laaaaary!”.

You know the whole “pass me the ball!” crap that’s always thrown around in football, right? Well, when this guy’s teammates would yell that out, he would respond, “You want it, come and get it!”. I know that’s so totally anti-teamwork. But, the sad thing is, he managed quite well without the support of his team.

I really learned a valuable lesson from that. Seriously, the whole thing had a huge effect on a lot of my thinking. It was around that point that I realised the value of being able to stand on one’s own. Like, just to be free of utter dependence upon others.

Anyway, the guy eventually got thrown out of the game because he, rather loudly, remarked that the referee’s call was “crap”. Subsequently, we then won the game.

So it was the best game of the whole season. It sucked that my gerbil died that night though.